TOVP Tour Diary Day 32 – Arrival in Montreal, Canada, Prasadam at the Home of Madan Kishore, and the Evening TOVP Program at the Temple

Montreal is the North American city where Srila Prabhupada opened the third ISKCON temple. At one point in time he even wanted to make it the Headquarters for his North American centers due to the historic fact that it was to McGill University in Montreal that Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur sent his first English book, The Life and Teachings of Lord Caitanya.

On the morning of Sunday, April 12th we drove from Ottawa to Montreal, arriving just in time for the Noon arati of the Deities Gaur Nitai, Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra and Radha Manohara, known for being some of the tallest Radha Krishna Deities in ISKCON North America. We then left with the Lord’s Padukas for Madan Kishore’s home where many devotees had gathered for kirtan, abhisheka and lunch prasadam. Afterwards, we returned to the temple to prepare for the TOVP presentation the same evening. Many devotees and guests arrived and participated in the greeting ceremonies of kirtan, abhisheka, flower offerings and arati to the Padukas. The temple Vice President, Gokulananda das, introduced the TOVP Team with great respect and honor and the program was turned over to Radha Jivan prabhu. Speaking, as usual, from their heart and soul, he and Jananivas prabhu infused the devotees with the significance of the TOVP and the need to be a part of this historic event. By the end of the program $426,000 in pledges was raised and all the devotees were ecstatic. Prasadam was then served.